FatGirls.com

Report by KOB

Before the banter and report I would just like to pay my respect to Bev. Lavin who unfortunately passed away just over a week ago. The funeral service on Friday was attended by a large amount of people including a number from Park, Her husband Paul was one of the first people I met when I arrived at Park. He was then a player who also represented his county Lancashire and was later to become the club coach (and a good one at that) Bev was also a bubbly character who always made you welcome and was extremely positive in everything she did and will be sadly missed.

Following on from our previous weeks trip to Hope Valley (this was a lot closer) where we had picked up injuries so Cesaire resting his ankles, Ben O’B his poorly finger and with Bish and Yonner deciding to take their Easter holidays a week earlier than usual we were a few regulars short. But this was no excuse as we were beaten by a better side on the day. We managed to get 15 players with both Bill and his bad knee and Shack making a comeback with his poorly fingers been talked in to playing. Kami, Steve and Leo had decided that they would have a few beers extra on the Friday night which did not help the cause.

It was good to have Shack back in which could be one of his last games before he goes eyeing up kangaroo’s. Unfortunately he let slip where he had been on Friday night. He got a date through the internet, he thought the pictures of her were okay but little did he know they were taken over 20 years earlier. While waiting for her outside a pub he wondered if there had been an eclipse as darkness descended. She was 20 yards away from him but he could not see around her she was that big. Being the gentleman he is he pretended he enjoyed himself and stuck with her until he told her he had to get the last bus home at 10.30. Apparently she waved him off from the bus stop with tears in her eyes. The passengers gave Shack a round of applause and asked him had he lost a bet.

When we arrived at Tyldsley deep heat then started to tell us the sad news that he and our lass had split up and that he would be going back to Yorkshire because there was nothing left for him in Manchester. The lads in the dressing room had their hankies out to wipe away the tears as he was telling us but then he broke the real sad news, she had taken his boots (or else he had lost them and he was blaming her.) So the lads started rooting in their bags to see if anyone had brought an extra pair only for then Deep Heat to tell us that he needed a size “6” Well there wasn’t much chance of that so he ended up playing in his multi coloured trainers.

We started off the game pretty subdued and after early pressure from Tyldsley they got a penalty which was missed. Good defence by the forwards with Tim Reed, James . Leo & Steve in the tight situations and when they moved it wide Dave Goley, James Mac, Kami and Barts kept Tyldsley out. Eventually their pressure got them a converted try when after good mauling they released the ball for the backs to score. 0-7. This was quickly followed by a penalty. 0-10.

In fact we had only been in there 22 once in the first twenty minutes where we missed an opportunity with a forward pass. Eventually after 25 minutes we did score with good hands in the backs with Barts appearing in the centre, Kegs looping round and with the full back to beat fed back inside for Barts to score 7-10. Tyldsley then got back in our 22 but at a scrum Tim Reed’s back went and had to leave the field so were now down to 14 players and from the resulting scrum and eventually maul Tyldsley got over the line. 7-17.

We then scored a good try from quick ruck ball on the half way a long miss pass from KOB to Kegs who drew his man and put James Cooley away to just score in the corner before the tackler got to him. 12.17.

At Half-time we were awaiting Shack’s ribena but it never arrived. We set off well in the second half and were level when from a tap penalty Kegs forced his way over to bring the scored level. 17-17 but that was as good as it got from then on it was Tyldsley’s game. More good work from the forwards, good ball to the backs and try. 17-22. And then from a bouncing ball Tyldsley reacted quicker to score 17-29. Then with fifteen minutes to go we lost Barts to a recurring injury which has kept him out for the last four games. So with 13 players now on the field it was going to difficult. We had two nearly tries, Kegs from an interception but could not get the pass away before knocking on and Shack on one of his trademark runs lost the ball five meters from the line. Otherwise it was all Tyldsley and in fairness we did well to hold out with some good defence from Kegs and Joe Noone in the centre. Good to see the referee who had a good game mock the player who tried a drop goal at 29-17. In fact his comment to ban drop goals sounds good to me.

So the 20 game unbeaten run comes to an end and therefore we have to start all over again and see if we can better it, starting this Saturday. By the way if anyone see Eddie Macdonagh tell him the game is on Sunday. Ta. Good to see Rob H back at the club telling is how well he played for the 2’s in his white boots and having looked at the pictures on the Park sire he was as usual watching from a distance. Also having looked at the pictures from the first team game I am sure there is one of Conor Mitchell breaking wind!! Picture 117!!

An interesting piece of news is Bill did not score again but he is going to his girlfriends manor this weekend. He intends to shoot pheasant while he walks the land. Her parents are away so he thinks he is in charge! God help the servants!!